Craft



A. A.4GRAHAM.

CRAFT.

APPLI'CATION FILED AUQ30| 1-920.

Patented Man-14, 1922.

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Graham.

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A. A. GRAHAM.

CRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED Aucmo'. 1920.

1,409, 1 66. Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

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CRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG30,1920.

1 ,409, 1 66. ented Mar- 14, 1922.

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UNITED STATES ALBERT A. GRAHAM, 0F TOPEKA, KANSAS.

CRAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Application filed August 30, 1920. Serial No. 406,806.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0 eka, in the county of Shawnee and State of iia-nsas, have invented a new and useful Craft, of which, the following is a specificatio The device forming the subject matter of this application is a craft, embodying the functions of an aeroplane, a hydroplane, a

boat, asubmarine and a vehicle, and one object of the invention is to increase the areaof the planes without rendering the craft bulky or unwieldy, this object being accomplished by extending the planes long1tudi nally of the body, rather than transversely thereof.

The invention aims to render the construction of devices of the kind mentioned less costly than heretofore, to promote lightness, strength, durability and compactness; to promote safety, to facilitate operation, to enhance speed; to increase the lifting power and to permit the carrying capacity to be changed within wide limits.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the inventio In the accompanying drawin Figure 1 shows in side elevation, one form of device constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation; F igure 3 is an end elevation of one of the planes, the said figure disclosing a modification; Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3, but showing a further modification; Figure 5 is a View like Figures 3 and 4, but disclosing a still further modification. Figure 6 is a side elevation showing a modified 'form of craft embodying the invention; Figure 7 is an elevation of the device shown in Figure 6;-Figure 8 is a side elevation showing a further modification, parts being broken away; Figure 9 is an end elevation of the craft shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is an end elevation showing a further modification, parts being broken away; and Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified arrangement of propellers.

I In Figure l of the drawings, the structure is shown in the form of an aircraft including a body 1. The bottom of the body 1 is prolonged laterally throughout its length to form base planes 2 extended longitudinally of the body and these planes 2, together with the bottom, constitute, in effect a single plane. The deck of the body 1 is prolonged laterally to form top planes 3 extended longitudinally of the body. Intermediate planes 4 are located between the planes 2 and 3, at each side of the body 1 and extend longitudinally of the body. The numeral 5 marks a superposed plane, connected as shown at 6 with the body 1. The plane 5 may terminate at its forward end in approximate alinement with the forward end of the body 1, the plane 5 being prolonged at its rear end, if desired, beyond the body. The propeller is indicated at 7, the wheels are shown at 8, and the numeral 9 marks a skeg. The rear end of the body 1 is supplied with a vertical rudder 10 and with a horizontal rudder 11. As denoted by the numeral 12, the various planes are shown as convexed upwardly. In this and in the forms hereinafter described, the planes may be constructed as desired, thus, in Figure 3, the plane 14 is convexed downwardly, whereas, in Figure 4, the plane 15 is fiat. The plane 16 shown in Figure 5 is corrugated, for the sake of strength, and to provide an increased area. Figure 6 discloses the invention embodied in a craft of the hydroplane type, including a body 17 having base planes 18 and top planes 19. The propeller appears at 20, the wheels at 21, the skeg at 22. The numeral 23 designates the vertical rudder, the horizontal rudder appearing at 24. Any desired number of superposed planes 25 and 28 may be provided, the planes 25 and 28 being connected with the body by any suitable means 26. The plane 25 extends rearwardly beyond the body, as shown at 27, the plane 28 being extended rearwardly, as indicated at 29. The uppermost plane 28' is extended at 30, beyond the forward end of the body.

InFigure 8, the invention is disclosed in the form of an armored battle plane, includin a body 31, having propellers 32 at its enc s, the propellers being carried by a shaft 33. Adjacent to each of its ends, the shaft 33 is supplied with cranks 34, or any other suitable means, whereby two motors may be used. Clutches '35 are interposed in the shaft 33, on each side of the cranks 34. It is possible, therefore, to use both engines to drive the two propellers, to use two engines to drive either propeller, or to use one engine to drive one propeller. The supporting wheels appear at 36 and the skeg is shown at 37. A vertical rudder 38 is provided, and the numeral 39 designatesa horizontal rudder. Lateral deck planes 40 extend longitudinally of the body, and may be hingedly mounted as shown at 41 so that they may be folded upwardly or downwardly, preferably downwardly, upon occasion. Superposed planes 42 extend longitudinally of the body 30, above the body, and are connected at 43 with the body.

In Figure 10, there is shown a light pleasure craft, comprising a body 44 having a propeller 45, the wheels being denoted by the numeral 46. Foldable base lanes 47 are provided, the planes 47 being inged at 48 to the body. The deck planes are shown at 49 and are hinged at 50 to the body, to be folded when desired. In this form of the invention, a superposed plane 51 is con-- nected at 52 to the body.

Passing to Figure 11, the body is designated at 53 and is provided with three propellers 54, this view being introduced to show that the propellers may be increased or decreased in number, to suit varying conditions.

The invention may be embodied in a craft of any desired size, it being possible to make the craft in small form. The structure is compact, and, at the same time, there isa maximum plane area, compactness being secured by extending the planes longitudinally of the body, rather than transversely, and an increased plane area being acquired by increasing the number of planes as may be called for'by the exigencies of the proposed use. The base planes are prolongations of the bottom of the craft, whereas the deck planes are prolongations of the deck of the craft. Further the vertical and horizontal rudders are located relatively near to the rear ends of the planes which are carried by the body, and, as a result, an exceedingly compact structure results. The various planes are so located and constructed that they may be attached securely to the body. As an incidental feature, it is to be observed that the appearance of the craft is enhanced, by the construction employed. Referring to Figure 8, it will be seen that a propeller may be located at either end of the craft and be operated by the same engine, if desired, it being unnecessary to use two engines, unless a surplus of power is required. Where two engines are used, either or both of the engines may be made operative, at the will of'the person in control of the craft. Re-

garding the hydroplane of Figure 6, it may be stated that if the plane travels in the water by the head, the propeller may be in the water, whereas if the forward end of the shaft is lifted, either by ballast, by a shifting of the load, or by a manipulation of the horizontal rudder 24, the propeller 20 may not be in the waterbut, whether or not the propeller 20 be in the water, the propeller, nevertheless will exercise its function.

Reverting to Figure 6, itwill be understood that the form shown in the figure alluded to may be used as a boat or as a submarine, since it may be permitted to float on the surface of the water or to be submerged, in motion, by a proper manipulation of the horizontal rudder 24.

The device is adapted to be used as a vehicle, since it is practically no wider than the ordinary road vehicle and is capable of being operated along highways, in the streets of towns, and elsewhere, to-receive and discharge passengers, freight and the like. The device, in proper form, is capable of making a landing upon a highway, and starting therefrom, thereb avoiding the expense and inconvenience incident to the preparation of landing fields. The device may be fashioned in. small form, so that an individual in a city may own and operate a machine, in the same way as an automobile is operated.

The planes may be elevated forward, or lowered backward, so that, in straight flying, when the proper or desired altitude is reached, the body of the plane may be carried horizontally. It is of course to be understood that the planes may be made of an desired width.

aving thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A craft of the type described compris ing a body including a bottom and a deck; planes assembled with the body and projecting laterally therefrom in alinement with the bottom and the deck, the said planes being extended longitudinally of the body; a superposed plane located above the body and extended longitudinally, of the body; and means for connecting said superposed plane with the body.

2. A craft of the kind described, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and further characterized by the fact that one of the planes is provided with longitudinal corrugations, extended from one side of the plane to the other.

3. A craft of the class described, comprising a body including a bottom and a deck; planes extended longitudinally of the body and projecting from the body in opposite directions and alined with the bottom and the deck; a plane located above the In testimony that I claim the foregoing body, and extended longitudinally of the as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signa- 10 body; means for connecting the last speciture in the presence of two witnesses.

fied plane with the body; and lateral planes 5 extended longitudinally of the body and ALBERT GRAHAM projecting laterally from the body, the Witnesses: planes being located between the first speci- R. D. BLAINE,

fi'ed planes. Wu. J. BLAINE. 

